Valve



June 11, 1940 HOT - J. B. POWERS VALVE Filed Feb. 10, 1939 2Sheets-Sheet l I 7 GOLD INVENTOR dWIA 644? ATTORNEYS June 11, 1940- JPQWERS 2,204,257

VALVE Filed Feb. I0, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORN EYS Patented June 11,1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VALVE Joseph Blair Powers, Flushing, N.Y.

Application February 10, 1939, Serial No. 255,638

the other of which communicates with the re- 17 Claims.

This invention relates to mixing valves for use in connection with hotand cold water supply pipes to deliver water of, desired temperature.Previous valves of this type have not been capable of regulating boththe flow rate and temperature by operation of a single handle.

An object of this invention is a valve of the type above referred to ofsuch construction that both the flow rate and temperature arecontrollable by operation of a single handle.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the valve comprises acylindrical block containing a pair of. cylindrical passages havingradial ports. A piston is provided in each passage and the block isenclosed by a sleeve having ports adapted upon rotation of the sleeve toregister with said block ports in varying ratio. Around the sleeve is acasing forming with the sleeve a chamber into which the sleeve portsdischarge and being in communication with the valve outlet. A handle isconnected to said sleeve for bodily movement therewith and for rotationaboutan interior axis. Connections are provided between the handle andthe pistons by means of which rotation of the handle about its axisefiects simultaneous movement of the pistons longitudinally of thepassages. In operation of the valve, the handle is rotated about itsaxis to vary the rate of flow by controlling the effective area of theblock parts and is bodily moved to rotate the sleeve relative to theblock to vary the ratio of flow of hot and cold water, thus controllingthe temperature.

Other objects, novel features and advantages of this invention willbecome apparent from the following specification and accompanyingdrawings, wherein: v

Fig. 1 is a vertical section partly in elevation of a valve embodyingthe invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectionon the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of. Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 of Fig. 1; and Figs. 6 to 9 inclusiveare sections substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1 showing differentpositions of adjustment.

As shown in Fig. 1, a cast metal body portion has a cylindrical blockIII in which are provided two cylindrical passages II, one of whichcommunicates at its bottom with a cold water inlet and the other ofwhich communicates at its bottom with a hot water inlet. At the lowerend of each of the passages II, the block is provided with'a pair ofopposed radial ports I2, one of which communicates with. one passage IIand maining passage I I.

A piston I3 is provided in each passage II for movement longitudinallythereof, both to control the inlet to such passage and also to vary theeffective area of the. port l2 for the corresponding passage.

A single yoke I5 remaining port I2.

Thus, upon rotation of the sleeve l8, the ratio of registration betweena port I2 and a port I9 varies from complete registration to zeroregistration while the ratio of registration between the two remainingports varies exactly oppositely, so that the total effective outlet areafrom the two passages I I remains constant in so far as rotation ofthesleeve I8 is concerned.

A casing 20 encloses the sleeve l8 and is spaced therefrom to define amixing chamber into which hot and cold water are discharged from thepassages II through the ports I2. At the upper end of the sleeve I8 areprovided ports 2| leading from the mixing chamber into the interior ofthe sleeve above the top of the block I0. In the block I I] are providedpassageways 22 leading downwardly to the valve outlet 23. In alinementwith the outlet 23 is swivelly connected one arm 24 of adjustment.

The arrangement just described permits the arm. 28 or delivery nozzletoswing to different positions as well as to be raised and lowered.

The sleeve I8 is closed at its upper end and is provided with a boss 29extending through the top wall of the casing 20.

A bevel gear 30' is journalled in the boss and the rod I1 extendstherethrough. A head 3| is fixed to the boss 29 and is provided with aninteriorly threaded bore 32 into which extends the threaded end of therod That portion of the rod II arranged within the gear 30 is of squarecross-section while that portion of the rod passing through the top ofthe sleeve I8 is cylindrical and the bore of. the gear 30 likewise is ofsquare cross-section so that the rod I! and the gear rotate together.Rotation of the rod I! relative to the head 3! effects vertical movementthereof by reason of its screwthreaded engagement with the head 3|. Inthe head 3! is journalled a bevel gear 33 in mesh with the gear 33. Ahandle 34 is connected to said gear for rotation therewith. The handle34 may be operated to effect rotation of the head 3| about a verticalaxis or may be rotated to effect rotation of the gear 33. Bodilymovement of the handle 34 is effective to rotate the sleeve I8 to varythe ratio of hot and cold water delivered to the mixing chamber, whilerotation of the handle is effective to produce vertical movement of therod II with concomitant movement of the pistons I3 to vary the rate offlow into the mixing chamber. Bodily movement of the handle 34 does noteffect vertical movement of the rod l'i due to the fact that suchmovement does not cause relative rotation of the head 3! and rod H.

In the operation of the valve above described, the rate of flow iscontrolled by varying the elevation of the pistons l3 by rotation of thehandle 35, thereby varying the effective area of the ports l2. Thetemperature is varied by bodily :movement of the handle 34 to effectrotation of the sleeve It with consequent variation in the ratio of hotand cold water delivered to the mixing chamber.

In the handle 34 is provided a rod 35 extending through the gear 33 andacross the head 3|, the rod being provided with a slot throughwhich therod ll extends. The end of the rod 35 is adapted to engage a springlatch 35 having one end riding on a ridge 3? at the top of the casing20. In the ridge is provided a notch 38 into which the latch 36 isadapted to fit to hold the head 3| against rotation. The notch 38 is soarranged that the latch 36 will become effective before the head 3! andwith it the sleeve l8 can be turned sufficiently to close off completelythe cold water passage into the mixing chamber and open completely thehot water passage. The purpose of this arrangement is to prevent injuryto a person using the valve by reason of inadvertently swinging thevalve handle into the position in which the valve delivers only hotwater. After the latch has dropped into the notch, it may be liftedoutof the notch by pushing inwardly on the rod 35, thus permittingfurther rotation of the sleeve l8.

Reference to Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9, will illustrate the various positionsassumed by the sleeve I 8 in going from a position in which the valvedelivers cold water only to a position in which it delivers hot wateronly. Fig. 6 illustrates the position of the sleeve for cold water only.Fig. '7 illustrates the position of the sleeve for tepid water, whileFig. 8 represents the position of the sleeve when the latch 36 is seatedin the notch 38. In this position, the proportion of hot watermaterially exceeds the proportion of cold water, but a mixture of hotand cold is still obtained. Fig. 9 represents the position to which thesleeve is swung after disengagement of the latch 36 from the notch 38 inorder to get delivery of hot water direct from the hot water inletwithout admixture of any cold water.

I claim:

1. A mixing valve comprising a cylindrical block containing a pair ofcylindrical passages having radial ports, a piston in each passage, asleeve enclosing said block and having ports effective upon rotation ofthe cylinder to register with said block ports in varying ratio, achamber communicating with both said sleeve ports, a handle connected tosaid sleeve for bodily movement therewith and for rotation about aninterior axis, and means operated by rotation of said handle to effectsimultaneous movement of said pistons longitudinally of the passages tovary the effective area of said block ports.

2. A mixing valve comprising a cylindrical block containing a pair ofcylindrical passages having radial ports, a piston in each passage, asleeve enclosing said block and having ports adapted upon rotation ofsaid sleeve to register with said block ports in varying ratio, achamber in communication with said sleeve ports, a handle connected tosaid sleeve for bodily movement therewith and for rotation about an axisinterior of said handle, a pair of interengaging screwthreaded membersof which one is connected to said handle for rotation thereby and theother is fixed to said sleeve, and connections between one of saidmembers and both said pistons whereby rotation of said handle iseffective to produce simultaneous movement of said pistonslongitudinally of the passages to vary the effective area of said blockports.

3. A mixing valve comprising a cylindrical block containing a pair ofcylindrical passages having radial ports, a'piston' in each passage, asleeve enclosing said block jandv having ports adapted upon rotation ofsaid sleeve to register with said block ports in varying ratio, achamber in communication with said sleeve ports, a handle connected tosaid sleeve for bodily movement therewith and for rotation about an axisinterior of said handle, a screw-threaded rod rotatably connected toboth pistons, a member fixed to said sleeve and having a screw-threadedbore into which said rod extends, and means interconnecting said rod andhandle for effecting rotation of the former by rotation of the latter,thereby causing simultaneous movement of said pistons longitudinally ofthe passages to vary the effective area of said block ports.

4. A mixing valve comprising a body including a cylindrical block havinga pair of cylindrical longitudinal passageways provided with radialports and a second pair of passages, a sleeve closed at one end snuglyfitting said block and rotatable relative thereto, said sleeve havingits end spaced from the block end to form an enclosure therewith andhaving ports adapted upon rotation of the sleeve to register with saidblock ports in oppositely varying ratios, a casing surrounding saidsleeve in spaced relation thereto to form a mixing chamber, said sleevehaving ports permitting communication between said chamber and saidenclosure, pistons in said cylindrical passages, a handle connected tosaid sleeve for bodily movement therewith and for rotation about aninterior axis, and means operated by rotation of said handle to effectsimultaneous movement of said pistons, longitudinally of the passages tovary the effective area of said block ports.

5. A mixing valve comprising a body including a cylindrical block havinga pair of cylindrical longitudinal passageways provided with radialports and a second pair of passages, a sleeve closed at one end snuglyfitting said block and rotatable relative thereto, said sleeve havingits end spaced from the block end to form an enclosure therewith andhaving ports adapted upon 7 rotation of the sleeve to register with saidblock ports in oppositely varying ratios, a casing surrounding saidsleeve in spaced relation thereto to form a mixing chamber, said sleevehaving ports permitting communication between said chamber'and saidenclosure, pistons in said cylindrical passages, a handle connected tosaid sleeve for bodily movement therewith and for rotation about aninterior axis, a pair of inter-engaging screw threaded members of whichone is connected to said handle for rotation thereby and the other isfixed to said sleeve, and connections between one of said members andboth said pistons whereby rotation of said handle is effective toproduce simultaneous movement of said pistons longitudinally of thepassages to vary the effective area of said block ports.

6. A mixing valve comprising a body including a cylindrical block havinga pair of cylindrical longitudinal passageways provided with radialports and a second pair of passages, a sleeve closed at one end snuglyfitting said block and rotatable relative thereto, saidsleeve having itsend spaced from the block end to fo-rm an enclosure therewith and havingports adapted upon rotation of the-sleeve to register with said blockports in oppositely varying ratios, a casing surrounding said sleeve inspaced relation thereto to form a mixing chamber, said sleeve havingports permitting communication between said chamber and said enclosure,pistons in said cylindrical passages, a handle connected to said sleevefor bodily movement therewith and for rotation about an interior axis, ascrew-threaded rod rotatably connected to both said pistons, a memberfixed to said sleeve and having a screw-threaded bore into which saidrod extends, and means interconnecting said rod and handle for effectingrotation of the former by rotation of the latter, thereby causingsimultaneous movement of said pistons longitudinally of the passages tovary the eifective area of said block ports.

7. A mixing valve comprising a cylindrical block containing a pair ofcylindrical passages having radial ports, a piston in each passage, asleeve enclosing said block and having ports effective upon rotation ofthe sleeve to register with said block ports in varying ratio, a chambercommunicating with both said sleeve ports, a rod screw-threaded at oneend and rotatably connected at its other end to both said pistons, ahead fixed to said sleeve and having a screwthreaded bore into whichextends the threaded end of said rod, 21. bevel gear slidably keyed tosaid rod and journalled in said sleeve, a second bevel gear meshing withsaid first bevel gear and journalled in said head, and a handle fixed tosaid second bevel gear for effecting rotation thereof relative to saidhead and for effecting rotation of said head. i

B; A mixing valve comprising a body including a cylindrical block havinga pair of cylindrical longitudinal passageways provided with radialports and a second pair of passages, a sleeve closed at one end snuglyfitting said block and rotatable relative thereto, said sleeve havingits end spaced from the block end to form an enclosure therewith andhaving ports adapted upon rotation of the sleeve to register with saidblock ports in oppositely varying ratios, a casing surrounding saidsleeve in spaced relation thereto to form a mixing chamber, said sleevehaving.

ports permitting communication between said chamber and said enclosure,pistons in said cylindrical passages, a rod screw-threaded at one endand rotatably connected at its other end to both said pistons, a headfixed to said sleeve and having a screw-threaded bore into which extendsthe threaded end of said rod, 2, bevel gear slidably keyed to said rodand journalled in said sleeve, a second bevel gear meshing with saidfirst bevel gear and journalled in said head, and a handle fixed to saidsecond bevel gear for efiecting rotation thereof relative to said headand for efi'ecting rotation of said head.

9. A mixing valve comprising a cylindrical block containing hot and coldWater cylindrical passages having radial ports, a piston in eachpassage, a sleeve enclosing said block and having ports effective uponrotation of the cylinder to register with, said block ports inoppositely varying ratio, a chamber communicating with both said sleeveports, a handle connected to said sleeve for bodily movement therewithand for rotation about an interior axis, means operated by rotation ofsaid handle to efiect simultaneous movement of said pistonslongitudinally of the passages to vary the effective area. of said blockports, a. latch for limiting movement of said handle into position tofully close the cold water passage port and fully open the hot waterpassage port, and means carried by said handle for moving said latchinto inoperative position.

10. A mixing valve comprising a body including a cylindrical blockhaving a pair of cylindrical longitudinal passageways provided withradial ports and a second pair of passages, a sleeve closed at one endsnugly fitting said block and rotatable relative thereto, said sleevehaving its end spaced from the block end to form an enclosure therewithand having ports adapted upon rotation of the sleeve to register withsaid block ports in oppositely Varying ratios, a casing surrounding saidsleeve in spaced relation thereto to form a mixing chamber, saidsleevehaving ports permitting communication between said chamber and saidenclosure, pistons in said cylindrical passages, a handle connected tosaid sleeve for bodily movement therewith and for rotation about aninterior axis, means operated by rotation of said handle to effectsimultaneous movement of said pistons longitudinally of the passages tovary the effective area of said block ports, a latch associated withsaid sleeve for limiting movement thereof toward full hot waterposition, and means carried by said handle for moving said latch intoinoperative position.

11. A mixing valve according to claim 7 char acterized by a latchcarried by said head for limiting rotation thereof toward full hot waterposition, andv means carried by said handle for moving said latch intoinoperative position.

12. A mixing valve according to claim 2 characterized by a latch forlimiting movement of said sleeve into position fully to open one blockport and close the remaining block port, and means carried by saidhandle. for moving said latch into inoperative position.

13. A mixing valve according to claim 3 characterized by a latch forlimiting movement of said handle into position fully to close one blockport and open the other block port, and means carried by said handle formoving said latch into inoperative position.

14. A mixing valve according to claim 4 characterized by a latch forlimiting movement of said handle into position fully to close one blockport and open the other block port, and means carried by said handle formoving said latch into inoperative position.

15. A mixing valve according to'claim 5 characterized by a latch forlimiting movement of said handle into position fully to close one blockport and open the other block port, and means carried by said handle formoving said latch into inoperative position.

16. A mixing valve according to claim 6 characterized by a latch forlimiting movement of said handle into position fully to close one block10 port and open the other block port, and means carriedby said handlefor moving said latch into inoperative position.

17. A mixing valve according to claim 8 characterized by a latch forlimiting movement of said handle into position fully to close one blockport and open the other block port, and means carried by said handle formoving said latch into inoperative position.

JOSEPH BLAIR POWERS. 10

